Wall construction



Feb, L 193@ H, E. MARKS WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed 0G13'. 25, 1954 INVENTOR,

w/TNEssEs Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 23,

6 Claims.

The invention relates to ceilings and walls, particularly walls forming partitions as distinguished from outside walls, the object being to provide a wall constructed of inexpensive materials, which may be quickly and inexpensively built, and in which its facings are not cracked or otherwise injured by relative movements between them and the vertical studding or equivalent members which position the facings.

It has been proposed to construct walls by attaching various forms of slabs, such as plaster boards, to the usual studding which form frameworks of walls, The slabs being rigid, any movements of the studding from their original position,-such as customary takes place' during the erection of the building and when it settles,cracks, buckles or otherwise injures the slabs and correspondingly mars the wall-facings.

According to my invention, a wall is formed of vertical studding which is spaced apart horizontally in usual manner. Adjacent to each side of the studding wall-facings are formed by superimposed tiers of slabs which enclose the studding. For holding these slabs in position means are provided for connecting those forming one to those forming the other facing, such means being arranged between and free from the studding so they permit unrestrained relative movements in vertical planes between the studding and the two wall-facings.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, of which Fig. 1 is a face View of a section of a wall embodying the invention; Fig. 2 a horizontal sectional enlarged view taken on the line II-II, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a perspective view of a spanning clamp for positioning the slabs; Fig. 4 a face view of the preferred form of slab used in the practice of the invention; and Fig.'5 and end view of the slab shown in Fig. 4.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, studding I, which may be of wood or rolled sections as may be desired, is rst erected at horizontal intervals preferably about one-half the length of the slabs that are used, although if very long slabs are used the studding is preferably placed at closer intervals. Adjacent to each face of the studding superposed tiers of slabs 2 are placed edge-toedge to form two wall-facings which enclose the studding. For connecting these facings to each other, I preferably provide clamps 3 formed of sheet metal, the clamps extending from one facing to the other and between the meeting edges of tiers of slabs. The ends of each clamp are provided with upwardly extending tongues 4 for engaging the outer face of an upper slab, and

1934, Serial No. 749,584

(Cl. 'l2-46) with downwardly extending tongues 5 for engaging the outer face of the adjacent lower slab. Also, one side of each clamp is provided with an upwardly extending flange 6 and the opposite side is provided with a downwardly extending flange '1, the ends of the flanges being spaced from the ends of the clamp for the thickness of a facing slab. These ilanges serve as facing spacers for insuring uniform wall thickness and for stiflening the wall slabs. l0

As shown in Figs, 1 and 2, these clamps are arranged solely between the studding, to which they are in no way connected. Thus there is nothing to interfere with relative movements between the facings and the studding, such as would result in injuring the facings if the studding should move.

The two facings are simultaneously built up in tiers, clamps 3 being placed upon the upper edges of the slabs forming each tier in such positions that their lower tongues 5 engage the upper edges of the slabs, their upper tongues engage the lower edges of the next tier of slabs, and the ends of flanges 6 and 7 abut against the slabs and space them uniformly apart.

If desired, clamps 3 may also be used at the ends of the slabs for imparting rigidity to the wall at those points. In such a case, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, the clamps are disposed at right angles to the horizontally disposed clamps between the tiers of slabs.

While in the broader aspects of my invention various forms of slabs may be used for wallfacings, I preferably use slabs of the form particularly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, each consist- 35 ing of two paper-faced plaster boards 8 and 9 suitably cemented together at their adjacent faces. Preferably the outer is smaller than the inner board so that when the slabs are positioned to form a wall-facing grooves are provided at the meeting edges of the slabs in which tongues 4 and 5 of the clamps are disposed. By filling these grooves with plaster or other suitable cementitious material, nished wall-facings are provided which may be painted or papered directly without applying layers of plaster on them. I have found that the cementing of two paper-faced plaster boards together to form a slab results in unexpected strength which renders it especially useful for forming facings for Walls of the type contemplated by my invention.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A wall comprising vertical studding spaced apart horizontally, vertically superimposed slabs forming two wall-facings positioned on the opposite sides of and enclosing said studding, and means free of the studding permitting unrestrained relative movements in vertical planes between said studding and facings for connecting the facings to each other and holding them upright against the sides of the studding.

2. A wall comprising vertical studding spaced apart horizontally, vertically superimposed slabs forming two wall-facings positioned on the opposite sides of and enclosing said studding, and clamps arranged between and free from the studding and spanning the gap between the facings, the clamps being provided at their ends with means for engaging the edges of adjacent slabs in each facing and forming the sole means for holding the facings upright against the studding while permitting unrestrained relative movements in vertical planes between the: studding and facings.

3. A wall lcomprising vertical studding spaced apart horizontally, vertically superimposed slabs forming two wall-facings positioned on the opposite sides of and enclosing said studding, and clamps arranged between and free from the studding and spanning the gap between the facings, the clamps being provided at their ends with means for engaging the outer surfaces of the edges of adjacent slabs in each facing and being provided with means fory engaging the inner surfaces of said slabs to space the facings apart a uniform distance, said clamps forming the sole means for holding the facings upright against the studding while permitting unrestrained relative movements in vertical planes between the studding and facings.

4. A wall comprising vertical studding spaced apart horizontally, vertically superimposed slabs forming two wall facings positioned on the opposite sides of and enclosing said studding, each slab having a recessed marginal portion, and clamps arranged between and free from the studding and spanning the gap between the slabs, the clamps being provided at their ends with portions engaging the outer surfaces of said slabs in said marginal portions and forming the sole means for holding the slabs upright against the studding while permitting unrestrained relative movements in vertical planes between the studding and slabs.

5. A wall comprising vertical studding spaced apart horizontally, vertically superimposed slabs forming two wall facings positioned on the opposite sides of and enclosing said studding, each slab being formed of a pair of paper-faced plaster boards having their adjacent faces cemented together, the outer of said boards being of less area than the inner to thereby provide a recessed marginal portion, and clamps arranged between and free from the studding and spanning the gap between the slabs, the clamps being provided at their ends with portions engaging the outer surfaces of said slabs in said marginal portions and forming the sole means for holding the slabs upright against the studding while permitting unstrained relative movements in vertical planes between the studding and slabs.

6. A wall comprising vertical studding spaced apart horizontally, vertically superimposed slabs forming two wall facings positioned on the opposite sides of and enclosing said studding, and

clamps arranged between and free from the studding and spanning the gap between the facings, each of said clamps being provided at each end with means for engaging the outer surfaces of adjacent slabs in each facing and being formed for spacing both of said adjacent slabs in one facing from adjacent slabs in the other facing. HERBERT E. MARKS. 

